How to Prevent a Dental Emergency – West Seneca, NY

Being Proactive to Protect Your Smile

Want to learn
how to prevent common dental emergencies in West Seneca? At Applegate Dental PLLC, our team of experts is always here to help when
a crisis occurs, but we are also available to provide beneficial tips and
advice on ways to protect your smile from danger and possible damage. We
know not all accidents are preventable, but if you want to take extra
precautions to keep your smile from becoming chipped, cracked, or broken, we
invite you to take a look at the few tips we recommend you follow for a
healthier, injury-free smile.

Practice Good Dental Habits

The first step to greater protection is maintaining a good oral hygiene
routine. Brushing twice daily for two minutes, using fluoride toothpaste to
strengthen tooth enamel, flossing at least once a day, and rinsing with an
ADA-approved mouthwash are extremely effective as combating tooth decay, gum
disease, and cavities. This daily routine also serves to give your smile a
better chance of avoiding damage, especially if you are using products
designed to strengthen enamel and improve gum health.

Avoid Biting Down on Anything Hard

Whether you have a bad habit of chewing on pens and pencils while at your
desk, or you prefer to snack on crunchy peanut brittle and hard candy, your
teeth will ultimately suffer. Why? Over time, your tooth enamel can begin to
wear down. Age, daily use, and unnecessary pressure can cause teeth to
weaken, chip, crack, and become fractured. By choosing to eat foods that are
hard and crunchy, and opting to chew on inanimate objects, you will speed up
the process of wear and tear, leaving your teeth vulnerable to damage and
decay.

Instead of reaching for that pen on your desk, keep sugarless gum in your
pocket. Want to take a bite of a juicy apple? Try cutting it up into more
manageable bites so your teeth do not suffer the consequences.

Invest in a Protective Mouthguard

Do you enjoy playing sports? Are you prone to grinding your teeth at night?
If you said “yes” to one or both of these questions, it is time
you invested in a mouthguard. Your dentist in West Seneca can provide you
with a custom-made oral device that is designed to fit comfortably in your
mouth while protecting your teeth and soft tissues from injury.

It does not matter if you are preparing for a hard-hitting tackle on the
field or simply want your teeth to remain intact while asleep at night, a
mouthguard can give your teeth and gums the protection they need, so you can
look and feel great about your smile.

Opt for Tools, Not Your Teeth to Open Containers

Our teeth are designed to chew and gnaw through food, not containers or
packages. Scissors, bottle cap removers, and other actual tools can and
should be used to open items that can seriously harm your smile. One minor
slip trying to remove a bottle cap can result in an emergency trip to the
dentist’s office or worse, the emergency room.